According to the indictment, at least 30 illegal kidney removals and transplants were carried out in the Pristina clinic in 2008.

The donors were from poor Eastern European and Central Asian countries, who were promised about 15 000 euros to become organ donors.

The indictment describes Israeli national Harel as the mastermind of a network for recruiting donors and finding recipients.

The seven suspects on trial include former Kosovo health secretary Ilir Rrecaj and Lutfi Dervishi, a prominent Pristina urologist.

Another suspect in the case is Turkish doctor Yusuf Sonmez, accused of having carried out illegal operations to remove organs.

He is also indicted in Turkey.

The Kosovo clinic was raided by police in 2008 after a Turkish man collapsed at Pristina airport waiting for a flight back to Istanbul after having a kidney removed.

The case is being tried by EULEX, the European rule of law mission in Kosovo, set up to help the local judiciary handle sensitive cases after the territory declared independence from Serbia in 2008. - Sapa-AFP